Whitecaps reserves push for starts in Edmonton Canadian Championship semifinal

Gary Kingston, Vancouver Sun04.23.2013

Vancouver Whitecaps defender Jordan Harvey (above) and goalkeeper Brad Knighton hope for a start in Wednesday’s first-leg Amway Canadian Championship semifinal against host Edmonton FC. ‘It’s definitely something we put on the list of things that we definitely need to achieve this year,’ Harvey says of winning the Voyageurs Cup.

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VANCOUVER — Given Martin Rennie’s apparent eeny, meeny, miny moe approach to lineup decisions of late, we’re only guessing here, but the likes of Jordan Harvey, Brad Knighton and Johnny Leveron could be making their 2013 debuts Wednesday night for the Vancouver Whitecaps in Edmonton (6:30 p.m., Sportsnet One, Team 1410).

They certainly hope so.

Fullback Harvey and goalkeeper Knighton started 18 and eight games, respectively, for the Caps last season but have been odd men out this season even as Rennie, the head coach, has been tinkering frequently with his starting XI through seven MLS games.

Meantime, Leveron, a Honduran international centre back, has taken a while to gain his fitness and acclimatize after being a late arrival due to visa issues.

“It’s been really tough,” said Harvey when asked about his 2013 campaign. “I mean, it hasn’t been.”

The seven-year MLS veteran out of Mission Viejo, Calif., started 14 games in 2011 and the final eight games late last season when Alain Rochat moved up to the holding midfielder spot. But with Rennie going with the same starting back line so far this season, Harvey has had to contend himself with reserve games.

“I hoping to get in the lineup (Wednesday) and prove my worth,” he said after practice the week.

The game is the first of a home-and-home Amway Canadian Championship semifinal against second-tier Edmonton FC of the North American Soccer League. The winner faces the winner of the Montreal-Toronto semifinal in another home-and-home with the winner of that one qualifying for the CONCACAF Champions League.

“It’s definitely something we put on the list of things that we definitely need to achieve this year,” said Harvey of a title the Caps have never captured, losing in the final each of the previous two seasons to Toronto FC.

“And I don’t think you’ll see anything lackadaisical or anything like that going into this game. We’re fired up and we’re looking forward to it.”

Knighton, who took over the starting ‘keeper’s job late last season from Joe Cannon, lost it back to the veteran this pre-season. The 38-year-old Cannon has been solid in the Caps’ 2-3-2 start to the MLS season while giving up nine goals in those seven games, but he certainly seems to be a candidate to be rested Wednesday.

“Any time to be able to get in the lineup and prove that you deserve to be there is an opportunity,” said Knighton. “So if (Rennie) calls my name (Wednesday), I’m looking forward to it and to show that I shouldn’t have lost my spot at the beginning of the year.

“You’ve got to fight and claw your way back in and make sure you don’t lose your spot again.”

Leveron could well slide into the spot of Andy O’Brien, the 33-year-old who has played every minute of the Caps’ first seven games.

“His defending has been good (in reserve games),” said Rennie of the 23-year-old Leveron. “He’s put himself in good positions and he’s never really been tested too much because of the way he positions himself. He’s very good in possession of the ball. He’s got a great switch of play. He brings a lot of quality.”

The Caps beat the Eddies 2-0 and 3-1 last season and Edmonton is 0-4-0 all-time in the tournament with nine goals conceded. Now coached by former Whitecaps assistant Colin Miller, Edmonton has started this season 0-2-1 with all three games on the road.

But Rennie said the Canadian championship is a competition Vancouver takes very seriously and he intends on fielding a strong lineup, sprinkled with front-line players. He conceded that’s why he didn’t start the likes of Camilo, Darren Mattocks and Gershon Koffie in last Saturday’s 2-0 loss in Dallas.

Mattocks, in particular, could probably benefit from a good run against Edmonton. The seven-goal scorer from last season has just one this season and needs something positive to happen to rebuild his confidence.

With winger Omar Salgado off with the U.S. U20 national side, first-round draft picks Kekuta Manneh and Erik Hurtado, plus striker Tom Heinemann, should also figure in Rennie’s plans Wednesday. Last season, Salgado used a strong performance against Edmonton to earn some MLS starts.

Rennie says it’s up to young players to seize the opportunity.

“The reality is, once the team is settled and everyone is doing well, then it’s going to be very hard to get in there. Now’s the time to step up and perform.

“If you don’t take it,that could even be the end of your career. So guys need to realize that.”

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Whitecaps reserves push for starts in Edmonton Canadian Championship semifinal

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